Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

As things stand, it will remain with the existing Department until, as I have said, a transfer of functions order is signed and dealt with. In the first instance and as of today, we need to sit down with the FÁS operation. Two thirds of its operations deal with placements and all of that area will be dealt with in the Department of Social Protection to get people working together to provide a better service for the people who need it. Similarly, skills policy will be dealt with in the Department of Education and Skills. The corporate accountability issues remain with the main Department until such time as there is legislation that will change it.

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